Rafael Nadal: 'I don't care if I finish behind Roger Federer, Djokovic in Major race'

World no. 2 Rafael Nadal has embraced quite a journey so far in 2020, competing at the ATP Cup and the Australian Open and also visiting Kuwait and South Africa to spread his legacy even more. The 19-time Major champion was the finalist at the ATP Cup with Spain and the quarter-finalist in Melbourne before opening his second Rafa Nadal Academy in Kuwait. Two days later, the Spaniard played against Roger Federer in Cape Town in front of 51,954 people, setting the world record and heading back home to Mallorca for some rest ahead of the ATP 500 event in Acapulco that takes place next week.

Rafa will have the opportunity to catch Roger Federer's Major record at Roland Garros, standing just one (20-19) before the Swiss and looking to match him or even pass him by the end of the season. Nonetheless, Nadal is not obsessed with that GOAT race with Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer, doing his best to finish career ahead of both but also accepting the fact he could be third on that exclusive list. He is trying to play at 100% at every event he enters, chasing some personal goals and hoping to fight for the medal in Tokyo if he stays healthy in the next couple of months.

"Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and I have a WhatsApp group, we have been doing the same kind of job for years now and we all love tennis very much; we also have the responsibility to promote our sport in the right way, trying to take care about things that could bring tennis to a higher level. We don't joke much about our Grand Slam tally. We all have been doing thins in our way; I would love to finish with more Grand Slams than anybody else but that's something I'm not obsessed at all. I'm super happy about my tennis career and life would continue if Roger or Novak, or both, finish ahead of me in that race.

In ten years, that will not make my life more or less happier; I'm just trying to enjoy what I'm doing. I don't like to bet and can't predict who will finish at the top, I'm part of that process and I don't care that much. I'm doing my best to get ready for every tournament in the calendar; Olympic Games are the most important sporting event and I'm hoping to be prepared for Tokyo and be a part of another Olympic Games. I'm excited about it and let's see how things go by then in the next couple of months. I'm passionate about the entire season, hoping to be able to chase my personal goals."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2T6Sipl